Tripping device



J. B. MAC NEILL.

Jan. 16, 1923.

TRIPPING DEVICE.

FILED JUNE 19, 1918.

INVENTOR fvlmB. Mac/V62 ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 16, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN B. Il'IACNEILL, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

TRIPPING DEVICE.

Application filed June 19, 1918.

is a

My invention .relates to tripping devices and particularly to tripping devices for relatively large circuit-interrupters.

(hie object of my invention is to provide a. relatively small tripping device for relatively l'. circuit-interrupters.

Another object of my invention is to provide a low-voltage tripping device that shall be applicable to existing types of circuitinterrupters.

Another object of my invention is to provide a low-voltage tripping device that iv be co nected either to the live or to dead side of the circuit and having auxiliary means coi'itrolled by a relatively sn'iall trip coil for actuating the same.

A. further object of my invention is to u'ovide a ti' iping device, oi the above-indicated character. that shall be simple and lllt L ensivc to construct and effective in its operation.

in practicing my invcntioi'l, I provide a trip coil of relatively low energy consumpti on, a trippLng bar, a spring {or actuating the tripping bar and a second spring controlled by the operation of the circuit-interrupter for restoring the first spring and for retrieving the movable member of the trip coil when the same is adapted for lowvoltage operation. I further provide means tor holding the movable member of the trip coil in its retrieved position until the circuit interripter is in its full closed position adapt the device for connection in order '1, to the dead side of the clrcuit-interrupter.

With this arrangement, sufficient energy is iinpar'ted to the trip bar to trip relatively large circuit-interrupters while the tripping magnet inav he of relatively small size and, d of simill energy consumption. l of the accompanying drawings is i: elevational view of a unitary trip- 11, device embodying my invention: Fig. 2 is a top view, partially in plan and partally in section, of the device shown in and l? is a diagrammatic view Serial No. 240,839.

of a circnit-interrnpter embodying my invention.

The unitary tripping device 1 comprises, in general, a casing 2 in which is disposed an electroinagnet 3, a tripping bar 4, a spring 5 for actuating the bar 4, a rod 6 that is actuated by the circuit-interrupter 7 a spring 8, a retrieving device 9 and a holding device 10.

The electromagnet 3 comprises a stationary magnetizable core member 11, a movable core member 12, a rod 13 having a head 14 thereon and a coil 15 that is connected to the electric circuit to be protected. The electromagnet 3 is of such characteristics that its movable core member 12 is adapted to move downwardly when the voltage of the circuit to which it is connected falls below a predetermined value.

The tripping bar 4 is pivotally mounted on a pin 16 and the spring 5 is connected from a point 17 on the bar 4 to a supporting member 18 on the casing 2. The rod 6 guided by bearings 19 and 20 and the spring- 8 is disposed around the same between the bearing 20 and nuts 21 thereon. The nuts 21 are adapt/ed to engage a portion oi the bar 1 at preferably a greater distance from the pin 16 than the point 17 The rod (3 provided with a head 23 that adapted to be engaged by a rod 24 on the movable member 25 of the circuit-interrupter 7. That is, when the circuit-interrupter 7 is closed. the rod 24 engages the head 23 of the rod 6 to compress the spring 8 and thus store suflicient energy therein to tension the spring 5 after the circuit-interrupter 7 is tripped.

The retrieving device 9 comprises an arm 26 that is secured to the rod 6 and is adapted to support the movable core member 12 of the electromagnet 3, under predetermined conditions. That is. when the rod 6 moves upwardly. by reason of the expansion of the spring 8 incidental to the opening of the circiTit-interrupter 25, the arm as moves the movable core member 12 of electromagnet 3 to its normal position. A latch member 27 is mounted on a pin 28 and is provided with two arms 29 and 30. The arm 29 is adapted to be engaged by the head 11 on the rod 13 when the same moves downwardly to move the arm 30 out of engagement with the bar 4. The holding'device 10 comprises a member 31 oi S-shape that is pivotally mounted on a pin 32. The portion 33 of the member 31 is provided with an adjustable screw 34: that is adapted to be engaged by the nuts 21 after the rod 6 has been moved to its final position. lhe portion 85 of the member 31 is adapted to be moved by a spring 36 that is connected between the member 31 and the arm 30 of the latch 27 to such position that it engages the under side or the head ll after the movable member oi the electromagnet has been retrieved. Thus, the holding device 10 is adapted to hold the electromagnet 3 in its retrieved position, when the same is connected to the dead side of the line, until the circuitinterrupter is completely closed.

W hen the voltage on the circuit drops below a predetermined value, the movable core member 12 of the electromagnet 3 will move downwardly to cause the head 1% on the rod 13 to engage the arm 29 ot the latching device 27 andthus cause the arm 30 to move out of engagement with the bar 4. When the bar t is thus released, the spring 5, which is normally under tension, moves the bar 4 in a clockwise direction to actuatethe latch 37 of'the interriqoter 7 through a rod 38 to trip the same. When the interrupter 7 is being opened by its accelerating spring 39, the red at moves upwardly and thus permitsthe spring 8, which has been previously tensioned, to expand. When the spring 8 expands, it moves the rod 6 upwardly and, when the nuts 21 engage the projection 22, the spring 5 is again tensioned and the arm 30 of the latch 27 engages the bar a to retain the same in position. The upward movement of the rod 6 retrieves the movable member of the electromagnet 3 through the retrieving device 9, and the spring 36 moves the holding device 10 to such position that its portion 35 engages the under side 01"- the head it.

When the circuit-interrupter is again closed, the rod 24 engages the head 23 oi"? the rod 6 and thus compresses the spring 8. The movement of the rod 6 moves the retrieving device 9 out 01 engagement with the movable member of the electromagnet and permits. the holding device 10 to hold the same in its operative position. After the rod 6 has moved to such position that the circuit-interrupter is closed, the nuts 21 will engage the screw 3 1': on the member 31 and thus so actuate the member 31 as to move the portion 35 thereof out of engagement with the head 14. Thus, when the low-voltage conditions again obtain on the circ the'device will be actuated to trip the interrupter 7.

li hile my device is herein set forth particnlarly with respect to low-voltage tripping devices, it will be understood that it releases may be equally well applied to overload and reversed-current tripping devices and that many modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as setforth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A tripping device for a circuit interrupter comprising a tripping magnet, a tripping bar, a latch for the bar actuated by the magnet, stored-energy means for actuating the bar to trip the interrupter and means actuated upon the operation of the interrupter for resetting the bar to store energy in the stored-energy means.

2. A tripping device for a circuit interrupter comprising a tripping magnet, a tripping bar, a latch for the bar actuated by the magnet, resilient means for actuating the bar to trip the interrupter, and a second resilient means actuated upon the operation of the interrupter for so actuating the bar as to store suflicient energy in the first resilient means to actuate the bar when the bar is again released by the latch.

A tripping device for a circuit interrupter comprising a tripping magnet, a tripping bar, latch for the bar actuated by the magnet, resilient means for actuating the bar to trip the interrupter, and a second resilient means compressed upon the closure of the interrupter for so actuating the bar as to store energy in the first resilient means when the interrupter is opened.

4. A tripping device for a circuit intcrrupter comprising a low-voltage trip coil, :1 tripping bar controlled by the trip coil, a spring for actuating the bar under predetermined voltage conditions, and a second spring so stressed, when the interrupter is closed, that it has sufficient force, when the interrupter is opened, to store energy in the first spring.

5. A tripping device for a circuit interrupter comprising a low-voltage trip coil, having a movable member, a tripping bar controlled by the trip coil, a spring for actuating the bar, under predetermined voltage conditions, to. trip the interrupter, and a second spring so stressed when the interrupter is closed that, when the interrupter is opened, it transmits sufiicient force through the tripping bar to tension the first spring, said secondspring also serving to rei'rieve the movable member of the trip coil.

6. A lowvoltage tripping device for relatively large circuit interrupters comprising a relatively small low-voltage trip coil having a movable member, a tripping bar, a latch actuated by the trip coil for restrain the bar, a spring for actuating the bar when the latch is actuated, and a second spring relatively larger than the first spring and compressed by the operation of the interrupter for restoring the first spring and for retrieving the movable member of: the trip coil when the interrupter opens.

'7. A low-voltage tripping device for relatively large circuit interrupters comprising a relatively small low-voltage trip coil embodying a movable member having an operative and an inoperative position, a tripping bar, a latch actuated by the trip coil lor restraining the bar and by the movable member in its inoperative position for releasing the bar, a spring for actuating the bar, a rod controlled by the circuit interrupter, a second spring in which energy is stored by movement of the rod in one direction for actuating the rod in the other direction to restore the first spring to its energized condition and to retrieve the movable member of the trip coil when the interrupter opens, and relatively movable means for retaining the movable member of the trip coil in its operative position until the rod has moved downwardly a predetermined distance.

8. A low-voltage tripping device for relatively large circuit interrupters comprising a relatively small low-voltage trip coil having a movable member having an operative and an inoperative position, a tripping bar, a latch actuated by the trip coil for restraining the bar, a spring for actuating the bar, a rod controlled by the circuit interrupter, a second spring compressed by the rod when the interrupter is closed for actuating the rod in one direction to restore the first spring and to retrieve the movable member of the trip coil when the interrupter opens, and relatively movable means for retaining the movable member of the trip coil in its operative position until the interrupter is in its hilly-closed position.

A. low-voltage tripping device for rela; tively large circuit interrupters comprising a relatively small low-voltage trip coil, a tripping bar controlled by the trip coil, a spring it'or actuating the bar to trip the interrupter, a rod controlled by the interrupter, and a second spring compressed by the rod when the interrupter is closed and adapted to actuate the rod, when the interrupter is opened, to restore the first spring to its energized condition.

10. In a tripping device for a circuit interrupter, the combination with a casing, of a low-voltage trip coil therein, a movable member controlled by the coil, a trip ping bar pivotally mounted in the casing, a latch for the trip bar actuated by the movable member, a spring for actuating the trip bar when released by the latch, and a second spring for storing energy in the first spring through the bar and for retrieving the movable member of the trip coil when the interrupter opens.

11. In a tripping device for a circuit interrupter, the combination with a casing, of a low-voltage trip coil therein, amovable member controlled by the coil, 2]. tripping bar pivotally mounted in the casing, a latch for the trip bar actuated by the movable member, a spring in the c: sing for actuating the trip bar to trip the interrupter when the bar is released by the latch, and a second spring within the casing, actuated by the interrupter for storing energy in the first spring and for retrieving the movable member of the trip coil. when the interrupter opens.

12. In a unitary tripping device for a circuit interrupter, the combination with an enclosing casing, ot a trip coil therein, a tripping bar pivotally mounted in the casing and extending through an opening therein, means controlled by the trip coil for restraining the bar, resilient means within the cas ing for actuating the bar to trip the interrupter when the bar-restraining means is actuated, and means within the casing, operatively connected to the bar under prede termined conditions, for resetting the bar when the interrupter opens.

13. A tripping device for a circuit interrupter comprising low-voltage trip coil and a mechanism controlled thereby embodying a movable member, a normallylatched tripping bar controlled by the movable member, a spring for actuating the bar to trip the interrupter, said spring be ing rendered operative a predetemined movement of the movable member, and a second spring energized when the interrupter is closed, and rendered effective, when the interrupter opens, to transmit the energy stored therein to the bar-actuating spring and to retrieve the movable member of the trip-coil mechanism.

1.4. In a unitary tripping device for a circuit interrupter, the combination with an enclosing casing, of a trip coil therein, a tripping bar pivotally mounted in the casing and extending through an opening therein, means controlled by the trip coil for restraining the bar, resilient means within the casing for actuating the bar to trip the interrupter when the bar-restraining means is actuated, and resilient means within the casing, operatively connected to the bar under predetermined conditions, for storing energy in the bar-actuating means during the opening movement of the inter rupter.

15. A tripping devil-e for a circuit interrupter comprising a relatively small trip magnet, a tripping bar, a latch "for the bar actuated by the magnet, a spring for actuating the bar to trip the interrupter when the latch is actuated, a second spring relatively stronger than the first spring, means actuated by the closing 0* the interrupter for storing energy in the second spring. and means actuated upon the expansion of the second spring When the interrupter opens, to tension the first spring through the tripping bar.

16. A tripping device for a circuit interrupter comprising a relatively small tripping magnet, a tripping bar, alatch actuated by the magnet "for restraining the operation of .the bar, a spring for actuating the bar to trip the interrupter, a second spring, means actuated by the closure of the interrupter for tensioning the second spring, and means whereby the opening of the interrupter permits the second springto expand and thereby tension the first spring through the tripping bar.

17. A tripping device for a circuit interrupter comprising a movable member, a tripping magnet for controlling the movable member, a spring for so actuating the movable member as to trip the interrupter When the magnet is actuated to release the movable member, and a second spring in which energy is stored upon the closing of the interrupter and Which serves to impart the stored energy to the first spring When the interrupter opens.

18. A tripping device for a large circuit May 1918.

JOHN B. MAGNEILL. 

